Can opener



Feb. 26, 1952 Filed Nov. 4, 1947 jgl G. BANDY CAN OPENER 2 SHEETS-SHEET l Feb. 26, 1952: G BANDY 2,587,090

CAN OPENER Filed Nov. 4. 1947 2 SHEETS--SHEET 2.

Wfm man ,M/zwar Patented Feb. 26, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CAN OPENER Ira. G. Bandy, Detroit, Mich.

Application November 4, 1947, Serial No. 783,915

6 Claims. (Cl.,306.1)

This invention relates to an improved can.Y

opener. I

'It is an object of this invention to provide an improved can opener or `perforator of the kind to be more `particularly described hereinafter l in which a metal can may have the top Aperforated by sliding the can inwardly relative to the tate the perforation of sealed cans of liquid con tents or the like.

A further obiect of this invention is to provide a can opener of this kind having a slidable perforating member actuated by the engagement of a can to be perforated with an operating button and having periorating teeth slidably mounted on the perforating member whereby the device mav be used for various sized cans and the engagement of the can with the device will properly push the perforating teeth on the surface to be perforated. n

With the above and other obiects in View, my invention consists in the arrangement, combination and details of construction disclosed in the drawings and specification. and then more particularlv pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation partlv broken away of a can perforator constructed according to an embodiment of this invention,

Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 2-'2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure `4 is a vertical section taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 1,

- Referring to the drawings, the numeral I0 designates `generally a can perforator which is 1 operated by the sliding engagement of a can top perforatedA with an operating button II which in turn actuates a perforating member I2 slidably mounted onl-the base. f

The can-perforatingdevice I0 is formed with an L-shaped base I4 having a horizontal base arm I5 and a vertical arm I6 fixed to its lower end-and to one-edge of the base arm I5 by bolts I'I or other suitable fastening devices.

.The vertical arm IB is formed at its upper end with a pair of spaced apartarms I8 each formed with an inwardly opening groove I9 confronting the groove I9 on the` otherv arm.. I8. Slidable members 20 having outwardlyextending rails 2I are adapted to slidingly engage in the grooves I9 of the spaced apart arms J8.

A slot 22 is formed in the vertical. arm `vIii below the arms I8 and centrally of the Width of the arm I6. A lever 24 is rockably mounted on the arm. IS bv a pin 25 which engages-across the slot 22 at the lower end thereof. The pin '25 rockably mounts the lever 24 for pivotal movement relative to the base I4 and vertical arm I6. The lever 24 is in the drawings shown as triangular having a vertical arm 26 and a lower horizontal arm 21.

An opening 28 is formed in the lower end of the lever 94 at the meeting point of the vertical and horizontal arms. The pivot pin 25 engages through the opening 28 for rockably mounting the lever on the base.

A slidable perforating member 29 is carried by the can perforator I0 between the arms I8 on the upper end of the vertical arm I6. The perforating arm or sliding member 29 extends horizontally from the arm IS and is positioned substantially parallel to the lower parallel arm I5 of the base I4.

The slidable member 29 is formed at one end with a depending member 39 having members 20 attached to the opposite sides thereof and engaging in the grooves I9. The lower end of the member 39 is formed with a pair of `transversely spaced apart lugs 30a providing bearings for the pivot pin 32. The pivot pin 32 engages transversely through the member 30 and through the slidable guides 20 and through one end of a link 34. V

The upper end of the link 34 is rockably connected to the slidable member 29 and guides 20 through the pivot pin 32, and the other end of the link 34 is pivotally connected by a pivot pin 35 to the opening 36 in the horizontal arm of the lever 24.

A horizontally extending operating arm 31 is rockably connected at one end to the opening 38 of the vertical arm 26 of the lever 24bya pivot 4securing thebracket to Va pin 39. A button as Il is fixed to or secured on the other end of the arm 31 for engagement with a can to be perforated.

The arm 31 is disposed in a position parallel to and spaced from the base I5 and perfcrating member 29. The arm 31 is supported in this position by a coiled spring 40 engaging about the arm along the length thereof. One end of the springg: abuts the outer face of the vertical arm I Gand the other end of the spring 40 engages about a reduced diameter stud 4I on the rear of the button I I.

In this manner, a can being pressed inwardly of the base I4 will engage the button I I for rocking the lever 24 about the pivot 25. As the lever 24 is rocked, the link 34 is pulled downwardly carrying with it the guide member 20 and .the perforating member 29.

A pair of pointed perforating teeth 42 are loosely carriedby the sliding member 29 for sliding movement Yalong the length thereof. The

vl sliding member-29 is formed with anelongated slot :i4-opening through the bottom thereof and apair of elongated slots45` opening-through the opposite sides.

The slotsA 44 and 45 open to the interior of member'29. A carriage 46 having rollers 4'! in the ends vthereof supports the4 perforating teeth Y42 on the sliding member 29. A depending arm i423 is flxedvon the carriage at each end thereof betweengthe rollers 1411for supporting the teeth .42 below thek member; I 9.

'.YThe arms 48 are adapted to depend through LtheslotAIl. 'Therollers'll'l are adapted to slidnglyngage in theslots l5 on the sides of the member 29. A spring'wis positioned within the slot 44Wand-abuts one of the arms as 48 of the carriage 4II 6 at the outernend thereof.

The inner end of the spring 49 abuts the inner eind of the slot i4 for continuouslypressing the carriagelflS outwardly of the sliding memberg.

as is provided for securing the periorator IG to kk.a ,wall or xed support. of the bracket 50 are secured at their free ends .,to-thefsidesof, thevertical arm I6 by screws 52 .brother suitable attaching devices.

The side arms 5I The bight portion 54 of thebracket v5I] vmay be formed with outwardly extending ears 55 4through which screws 56 may beengaged for vWall or other fixed support.

The periorating teeth 6.2 maybe of anysuitable size or shape evendiierent from those v shown in ,slidnsmember 29 foizthe same purpose.

lIn Figure 7 is a-,gear .and rack arrangement which includes a, spur gear SImounted ona pivot member'g carried by a bearing 59. v"'Ihebearing 5.59 isse c ured to the uprightmember I 6a corresponding to the member I6 in Figure l. A horizontally disposed and forwardly extending gear operator 31e isslidable through an opening 60 Y formedintheupright I6a and a spring Maconstantly urges the bar or rod-31a outwardly, the

outer end of the spring 40a bearing against a button or head similar to II in Figure 1.

The rear end of the rod 31a is connected to a crank6I which is fixed relative to the spur gear 51. 5 A slidable perforating arm 29a is disposed above the operator 31a and is slidable in an upright guide 62 which is fixed to a rearwardly extending arm 63 carried by the upright I6a.

A vertically .disposed toothed, rack 64 is fixed uat its upper end toithe slidetarmZSa and is adapted to mesh with the gear 51 so that ro- ;tation of the gear 51 in a counterclockwise direction will effect downward pull on the rack 64 .and will pull the point carrying member or slide 29a downwardly into operative position.

Referring now to Figure 8, there is disclosed :another modiiication of this invention including an `upright member I6?) similar to upright I6. The upright Iib has slidably extending therethrough a lever operating bar 31h which is spring pressedk outwardly bymeanslof a: spring 46h. The rod or operator 31h is pivotallycon- -nected as'at 65- to the upper end of a-rooklever or link 66 which: is` pivoted at its lowerend as=at l 61 'ina-rearwardly projectinglhousing 68. *The lhousing 68 is xed to therear side of the upright I6b. A-vertically movable slide member 29h is disposed above the housing 68 and has associated therewith the elements'rdisclosed in Figure; 1 associatedwith the slide member29.

The slide member' 291) f hasxed' thereto a depending-bar 68 which loosely engages through an -opening'l formed' in the topwalliI of the housing 68. The arm or bar 69 is pivotally securedas at'12toone end of a rock lever 13 -which is f-pivotally mounted between the ends thereof as at 14 in the lower portion of the housing 6,8.

'Ifheforwardend ofthe yrock lever 13 is pivotallyconnected asY at 15 to one arm 'I5 of a bell crank TI. The otherarm 'I8 ofthe bell crank 11'is pivotallysecured as at 'I9 to the lever 'I6 above thepivot'-61. The bell crank 11 is pivotally vsecured asat 80 to the upper end of a rocking link BI-which is pivoted as at 82 in the lower portion of the housing 68.

I do not mean to conne myself to the exactl detailslof construction herein disclosed, but claim all variations-falling wit-hin thepurview of the 'appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I vclaim is:

l.. A can perforator comprising-a base, a vertical arm on saidbaSe, a horizontally disposed perforating member slidably carried by said arm.

can piercing means carried by perforating member,l an elongated vltoothed lrack iixed relative to said perforating member and 'depending therefrom, a spur gear rotatably carried by said arm,

50 and meshing with said rack, anda'spring pressed operating memberoperatively connected to said gear and disposed below said fperforating member adapted upon movement thereby by -a can sliding horizontally onsaid base torotate said 55 spur gear andeiect downward movement of said perforating member to piercelthe can.

2. A can perforatorcomprisinga base for supporting a can to Lbe perforated, a lvertically dis -posed'member arranged adjacent one end of said base and xedly'secured to said base, a 'horizon tal member positioned transversely of said memu ber adjacent-the other-end thereof above and spaced from said base and mounted on said ver- -tical member for limited up and-down movement,

76 a can-perforatinggmembenadapted to-engagethe top of a can when supported on said base mounted on said horizontal member for movement toward and away from said vertical member, means operatively connected to said horizontal inember for effecting the up and down movement of the latter, and actuating means positioned transversely of said vertical member intermediate its ends operatively connected to said means and engageable upon forcible contact of the side of a can whose top is to be punctured to thereby cause down movement of said horizontal member and penetration of the top of a can when supported on said base.

3. A can perforator comprising a base for supporting a can to be perforated, a vertically disposed member arranged adjacent one end of said base and xedly secured to said base, a horizontal member positioned transversely of said member adjacent the other end thereof above and spaced from said 'pase and mounted on said vertical member for limited up and down movement, a can perforating member adapted to engage the top of a can when supported on said` base mounted on said horizontal member for movement toward and away from said vertical member, means operatively connected to said horizontal member for effecting the up and down movement of the latter, actuating means positioned transversely of said vertical member intermediate its ends operatively connected to said means, and engageable upon forcible contact o the side of a can whose top is to be punctured to thereby cause down movement of said horizontal member and penetration of the top of a can when supported on said base, and spring means operatively connected to said actuating means for urging said vertical member in its up movement position.

4. A can perforator comprising a base for supporting a can to be perforated, a vertically disposed member arranged adjacent one end of said base and xedly secured to said base, a horizontal member positioned transversely of said member adjacent the other end thereof above and spaced from said base and mounted on said vertical member for limited up and down movement, a can perforating member adapted to engage the top of a can when supported on said base mounted on said horizontal member for movement toward and away from said vertical member, an upstanding lever positioned transversely of said vertical member and mounted intermediate its ends on said vertical member for pivotal movement about an axis transverse of said vertical member, an upstandng link positioned adjacent said lever and having the lower end pivotally connected to the lower end of said lever, a guide block arranged adjacent the upper end of said link and mounted in said vertical member for up and down movement, a lug depending from said horizontal member adjacent said vertical member, means pivotally connecting said block, lug, and the upper end of said link together, and a pin positioned transversely of said vertical member intermediate its ends and having one end pivotally connected to the upper end of said lever and engageable upon forcible contact of the side of a can whose top is to be punctured to thereby cause down movement of said horizontal member and penetration of the top of a can when supported on said base.

5. A can perforator comprising a base for supporting a can to be perforated, a vertically disposed member arranged adjacent one end of said base and xedly secured to said base, a horizontal member positioned transversely of said member adjacent the other end thereof above and spaced from said base and mounted on said vertical member for limited up and down movement, a can perforating member adapted to engage the top of a can when supported on said base mounted on said horizontal member for movement toward and away from said horizontal member, a rotatable gear carried by said vertical member, a vertically disposed gear rack dependingly carried by said horizontal member and in meshing engagement with said gear, an upstanding crank arm having the lower end fixedly secured to said gear, and a pin positioned transversely of said vertical member intermediate its ends and having one end pivotally connected to the upper end of said crank arm, and engageable upon forcible contact of the side of a can whose top is to be punctured to thereby cause down movement of said horizontal member and penetration of the top of a can when supported on said base.

6. A can perforator comprising a base for supporting a can to be perforated, a vertically disposed member arranged adjacent one end of said base and fixedly secured to said base, a horizontal member positioned transversely of said member adjacent the other end thereof above and spaced from said base and mounted on said vertical member for limited up and down movement, a can perforating member adapted to engagethe top of a can when supported on said base mounted on said horizontal member for movement toward and away from said vertical member, a housing positioned on one side ci said vertical member and below said horizontal -member and iixedly secured to said vertical member, a rst upstanding lever positioned within said housing adjacent said vertical member and having the lower` end pivotally supported in said housing, an upstanding link positioned i'n said housing adjacent to and spaced from the lower end of said lever and having its lower end pivotally supported in said housing, a bell crank` positioned adjacent the upper end of said link and pivotally connected intermediate its ends t0 the upper end of said link, one end of said bell crank being pivotally connected to said lever, a second lever positioned adjacent the other end of said bell crank and having one end pivotally connected to the other end o f said bell crank, an upstanding bar positioned within said housing adjacent the other end of said second lever and having the upper end dependingly supported on said horizontal member and having the lower end pivotally connected to the other end 0f said second lever, and a pin positioned transversely oi said vertical member intermediate its ends and having one end extending into said housing and pivotally connected to the upper end of said rst lever and engageable upon forcible contact of the side of a can whose top is to be punctured to thereby cause the down movement of said horizontal member and penetration of the tcp of a can when supported on said base.

IRA G. BANDY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,721,055 Ruggles July'l, 1929 2,441,322 Jager May 11, 1948 

